Ringside/By Sue TL Fox
April 18, 2003
(APR 18, 2003) In front of a packed audience, at the Palace Indian Gaming Center, in Lemoore, California, they featured a night of women’s boxing, with one men’s bout between heavyweight contender Michael Grant vs. Gilbert Martinez. The first fight of the night was between Isra “The Raging Beauty” Girgrah and Laura Serrano.
The two fought in a toe-to-toe battle that ended in a controversial eight-round split decision for Girgrah. Final scoring was 79-73 Serrano, and 77-75, and 78-74 Girgrah. The boxing fans met the decision with a loud sound of “boos.” Serrano, took the Mexico flag and ran through the audience after the decision was announced. This was Serrano’s first loss as a pro boxer.
The second bout of the evening was featured Sumya “The Island Girl” Anani and Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs. Even before the fight began, Anani stared across the ring at Gibbs, shuffling her feet as if she appeared ready to spring in action at the sound of the bell. But Gibbs had her own arsenal coming into the first round as both boxers immediately began throwing leather. There was some holding in the first round, and at the end of the round, it ended with a combination of punches by both boxers. But it was learned shortly there after that Gibbs may have experienced a fractured hand and the fight was halted. Anani won the fight by a TKO.
The third night of the fight featured Grant and Martinez. Their fight ended in a win for Grant by a TKO in the later rounds.
Then the ESPN2 cameras stopped rolling as the next women’s match was to take place between Nina Ahlin and Vaia Zaganas. It was a very entertaining fight and it was unfortunate that it did not make television. WBAN did tape the fight. Final scoring for the Ahlin/Zaganas fight with Zaganas winning by 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56.
The last fight of the night was another women’s match, that could have easily been named the “fight of the night.” Layla McCarter, of Las Vegas, took on local boxer from Fresno, Lisa Lewis. It was the classic boxer against puncher. McCarter was slick as she slipped punches by Lewis who is also one tough fighter! The six-rounder ended in a unanimous decision for McCarter.
